Hebrews 9:9

KJV

Which [was] a figure for the time then present, in which were offered both gifts and sacrifices, that could not make him that did the service perfect, as pertaining to the conscience;

KJV (with Strong's)

Which {G3748} was a figure {G3850} for {G1519} the time {G2540} then present {G1764}, in {G2596} which {G3739} were offered {G4374} both {G5037} gifts {G1435} and {G2532} sacrifices {G2378}, that could {G1410} not {G3361} make {G5048} him that did the service {G3000} perfect {G5048}, as pertaining to {G2596} the conscience {G4893};

Complete Jewish Bible

This symbolizes the present age and indicates that the conscience of the person performing the service cannot be brought to the goal by the gifts and sacrifices he offers.

Berean Standard Bible

It is an illustration for the present time, because the gifts and sacrifices being offered were unable to cleanse the conscience of the worshiper.

American Standard Version

which is a figure for the time present; according to which are offered both gifts and sacrifices that cannot, as touching the conscience, make the worshipper perfect,

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Hebrews 9:9 declares that the Old Covenant tabernacle and its sacrificial system served as a symbolic representation, a "figure," for the era in which it operated. Despite the regular offering of various gifts and sacrifices within this system, it possessed an inherent limitation: it could not fundamentally cleanse or perfect the conscience of the worshiper, leaving them with an internal sense of guilt or inadequacy before God. This verse thus underscores the provisional and incomplete nature of the Mosaic Law, setting the stage for the revelation of Christ's superior and fully efficacious atonement.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse is deeply embedded within the author's extended argument in Hebrews 9, which meticulously details the inadequacy of the Old Covenant's sacrificial system and the superiority of Christ's New Covenant. The preceding verses [Hebrews 9:1-5](/hebrews/9-1-5 "Hebrews 9:1-5 - Description of the Tabernacle and its Contents") describe the earthly tabernacle, its two compartments (the Holy Place and the Most Holy Place), and the sacred items within them. [Hebrews 9:6-8](/hebrews/9-6-8 "Hebrews 9:6-8 - Priestly Ministry and the Way to the Holiest") then explains the daily ministry of the priests in the Holy Place and the annual entry of the high priest into the Most Holy Place, emphasizing that the way into God's presence was not yet fully revealed under the Old Covenant. Verse 9 directly follows this description, explicitly stating that this entire system, symbolized by the tabernacle itself, was merely a "figure" or illustration, pointing to a future reality. It serves as a pivotal transition, highlighting the limitations of the old system before introducing the perfect and final work of Christ.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The audience of the Epistle to the Hebrews consisted primarily of Jewish Christians, many of whom were wavering in their faith and tempted to revert to Judaism due to persecution or a misunderstanding of the New Covenant's finality. For these believers, the temple, its priesthood, and its elaborate sacrificial rituals were deeply ingrained aspects of their religious identity and heritage. They understood the daily and annual sacrifices as divinely ordained means of atonement and purification. The author's challenge was to demonstrate that while these practices were indeed God-given, they were never meant to be ultimate. They were shadows of a greater reality yet to come. The concept of "conscience" (Greek: _syneídēsis_) was also significant in both Jewish and Hellenistic thought, referring to the inner moral awareness of right and wrong, and the sense of guilt or innocence before God and others. The author argues that the Old Covenant rituals could not truly address this inner spiritual burden.
* **Key Themes:** This verse contributes significantly to several overarching themes in the Epistle to the Hebrews. Firstly, it reinforces the **provisional and typological nature of the Old Covenant**, asserting that its institutions were temporary pointers, not the ultimate reality. The tabernacle and its rituals were a "figure" (_parabolē_), a shadow of heavenly realities, as discussed earlier in [Hebrews 8:5](/hebrews/8-5 "Hebrews 8:5 - The Heavenly Pattern"). Secondly, it highlights the **inadequacy of animal sacrifices to achieve true spiritual perfection or inner cleansing**. The repeated sacrifices under the Law, though commanded by God, could not truly remove the stain of sin or bring deep peace to the conscience, a point further elaborated in [Hebrews 10:1-4](/hebrews/10-1-4 "Hebrews 10:1-4 - The Law's Inability to Perfect"). This inadequacy creates a profound **need for a superior High Priest and a better sacrifice**, a theme that permeates the entire epistle and finds its fulfillment in Jesus Christ, whose single offering perfects those who are sanctified ([Hebrews 10:14](/hebrews/10-14 "Hebrews 10:14 - Christ's Single Offering Perfects")).

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **figure (Greek, _parabolē'_):** From G3850. This word signifies a similitude, a parable, an illustration, or a type. In this context, it emphasizes that the Old Covenant tabernacle and its entire system were not the ultimate reality but rather a symbolic representation or an object lesson. They served as a foreshadowing, pointing beyond themselves to a greater, more complete reality yet to be revealed. It underscores the temporary and illustrative nature of the Mosaic dispensation.
* **perfect (Greek, _teleióō'_):** From G5048. To complete, to accomplish, or to consummate in character. Here, it refers to a state of spiritual and moral completion or inner purification. The Old Covenant sacrifices, while providing ceremonial cleansing, could not bring about this deep, internal transformation or a clear, guilt-free conscience before God. The author uses this term to highlight the profound spiritual deficiency of the old system in addressing the root problem of sin.
* **conscience (Greek, _syneídēsis'_):** From G4893. This term denotes co-perception or moral consciousness. It refers to the inner faculty that judges one's actions, leading to a sense of guilt, shame, or peace. The verse explicitly states that the Old Covenant sacrifices could not perfect the worshiper "as pertaining to the conscience," meaning they could not truly remove the burden of guilt or provide an inner sense of peace and acceptance before God. The cleansing was external and ritualistic, not internal and transformative.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"Which [was] a figure for the time then present":** The antecedent "Which" refers to the tabernacle and its associated rituals described in the preceding verses. The phrase "a figure" (Greek: _parabolē_) indicates that this entire system was a symbolic representation, a shadow, or an illustration. It was not the ultimate reality but served as a temporary, provisional arrangement "for the time then present," meaning for the duration of the Old Covenant era. This highlights its temporary and preparatory nature, designed to point forward to a greater fulfillment.
* **"in which were offered both gifts and sacrifices":** This clause specifies the activities that took place within this "figure"—the regular offering of "gifts" (general offerings, perhaps including grain or drink offerings) and "sacrifices" (specifically blood offerings for atonement). These were the prescribed means of worship and reconciliation under the Mosaic Law, performed diligently by the priests and worshipers. The author acknowledges the divine institution of these practices, even as he points to their limitations.
* **"that could not make him that did the service perfect, as pertaining to the conscience;":** This is the crucial limitation. Despite the diligent performance of these rituals, they "could not make him that did the service perfect." The Greek verb _teleióō_ here implies a complete, inner, and spiritual perfection or cleansing. The inability was specifically "as pertaining to the conscience" (Greek: _katá syneídēsin_). This means the sacrifices could not truly remove the deep-seated guilt, the burden of sin, or the moral defilement from the worshiper's inner being. They provided ceremonial purity but not a fundamental, internal peace or a clear conscience before a holy God.

#### Literary Devices
The author of Hebrews employs several powerful literary devices in this verse. **Symbolism** is central, as the entire tabernacle system, with its "gifts and sacrifices," is explicitly called a "figure" (_parabolē_), serving as a symbolic representation of spiritual truths that would later be fully revealed. This sets up a **Contrast** between the Old Covenant and the New, highlighting the inherent limitations of the former. The phrase "could not make him that did the service perfect" creates a clear **Antithesis** to what the New Covenant, through Christ, *can* achieve. Furthermore, the specific focus on "the conscience" employs **Metonymy**, where "conscience" stands for the inner spiritual state of the worshiper, emphasizing that the deficiency of the old system was not merely external or ritualistic, but deeply internal and moral.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Hebrews 9:9 serves as a profound theological statement on the nature of atonement and the progression of God's redemptive plan. It firmly establishes that the Old Covenant system, though divinely ordained, was inherently provisional and incapable of achieving ultimate spiritual perfection or deep inner cleansing. Its inability to "perfect... the conscience" highlights humanity's persistent need for a more profound and final solution to the problem of sin and guilt. This verse powerfully sets the stage for the revelation of Christ as the perfect High Priest and the ultimate sacrifice, whose once-for-all offering truly cleanses the conscience and provides complete access to God. It underscores the New Covenant's superiority not merely in degree, but in kind, offering an internal transformation that the external rituals of the Old Covenant could never provide.

* [Hebrews 10:1-4](/hebrews/10-1-4 "The Law's Inability to Perfect")
* [Hebrews 10:11-14](/hebrews/10-11-14 "Christ's Superior Sacrifice")
* [Romans 3:20](/romans/3-20 "The Law Cannot Justify")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Hebrews 9:9 offers a crucial perspective on our approach to God and our understanding of true spiritual peace. It challenges any notion that human effort, religious rituals, or adherence to external laws can genuinely cleanse our conscience or make us "perfect" in God's sight. The Old Covenant's inability to achieve this inner transformation, despite its divine origin and meticulous practice, serves as a timeless reminder that our salvation and acceptance before God are not earned through our "service" or "gifts and sacrifices." Instead, true peace and a clear conscience are found solely in the finished work of Jesus Christ. This verse calls us to abandon self-reliance and ritualism, and to place our complete trust in Christ's perfect sacrifice, which alone has the power to cleanse our deepest guilt and bring us into a state of genuine peace with God. It encourages us to live with the confidence that our conscience can be truly purified, not by what we do, but by what Christ has already done for us.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **In what ways might I be tempted to rely on my own religious efforts or good deeds to earn God's favor or cleanse my conscience, rather than trusting solely in Christ's work?**
* **How does understanding the limitations of the Old Covenant sacrifices deepen my appreciation for the completeness and finality of Christ's atonement?**
* **What does it mean practically to have a "perfected conscience" through Christ, and how should this assurance impact my daily life and worship?**

### FAQ

**What does it mean that the Old Covenant sacrifices "could not make him that did the service perfect, as pertaining to the conscience"?**

Answer: This means that while the Old Covenant sacrifices provided ceremonial cleansing and a temporary covering for sin, they could not fundamentally transform the worshiper's inner moral state or remove the deep-seated burden of guilt from their conscience. The purification was external and ritualistic, not internal and spiritual. The repeated nature of these sacrifices (as highlighted in [Hebrews 10:1-4](/hebrews/10-1-4 "The Law's Inability to Perfect")) demonstrated their inability to provide a final, complete, and lasting solution to the problem of sin and guilt. Worshippers would still feel the weight of their sins and the need for ongoing atonement.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Hebrews 9:9, by exposing the inherent limitations of the Old Covenant system, powerfully magnifies the necessity and glory of Christ's redemptive work. The "figure" of the tabernacle and its sacrifices, which could not perfect the conscience, was a divinely orchestrated foreshadowing that pointed directly to Jesus Christ. He is the ultimate reality to which the Old Covenant rituals alluded. Unlike the priests who repeatedly offered imperfect sacrifices that could not truly cleanse the conscience, Christ, as our great High Priest, entered the true, heavenly sanctuary "once for all" through His own blood ([Hebrews 9:11-12](/hebrews/9-11-12 "Christ Enters the Heavenly Sanctuary")). His single, perfect sacrifice not only covers sin but genuinely purifies the conscience "from dead works to serve the living God" ([Hebrews 9:14](/hebrews/9-14 "Christ's Blood Cleanses the Conscience")). Thus, what the Law could not do—provide a clear conscience and perfect inner peace—Christ accomplished completely, ushering in a New Covenant where believers can draw near to God with full assurance, having their hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience ([Hebrews 10:22](/hebrews/10-22 "Drawing Near with a True Heart")).

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

1 Peter 3:21

¶ The like figure whereunto [even] baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ:

Hebrews 5:1

¶ For every high priest taken from among men is ordained for men in things [pertaining] to God, that he may offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins:

Romans 5:14

Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over them that had not sinned after the similitude of Adam's transgression, who is the figure of him that was to come.

Psalms 51:16

For thou desirest not sacrifice; else would I give [it]: thou delightest not in burnt offering.

Psalms 51:19

Then shalt thou be pleased with the sacrifices of righteousness, with burnt offering and whole burnt offering: then shall they offer bullocks upon thine altar.

Hebrews 10:11

And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins:

Hebrews 10:1

¶ For the law having a shadow of good things to come, [and] not the very image of the things, can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect.